Laid in puddle of his own crimson blood Max breathed heavily. He had a broken nose and two black eyes and bruises covering his entire body and had two cracked ribs. He was lucky to be found by the stranger. Internally Max's soulmate was in tears, altough Max frustrates her to the point of swearing he is still her family.
"Why does it have to be like this, I'm tired of crying over you when nothing changes next time you won't be so lucky... I wish I could help I really do."
Unbeknownst to her Maximiliens soul had started to leak and his life essence slowly was slipping out.
The large man carried Max on his shoulder after he carefully picked him up. He brought him to his home that was actually a dojo, it was a beautiful garden that had two buildings one was allocated for training and the other was a single story stone house that had two bedrooms a kitchen and living area and one bathroom.
The man carefully undressed Max and saw his state of his body that was full of scars and unset bones showing the history of his past beatings he ran a luke warm bath and placed him in it and tried his best to clean him up at least as well as a straight man could do in such a situation. To the relief of Leo he was finally able to take Max out of the bath and place him on the bed.
"Where... where am I?" Max had finally awoke but when he tried to moved "Ahhhh" all he felt was intense agony. His screams had brought Leo in and Max looked up at the rough yet handsome man who had a look of a Greek God and wondered who the hell he was.
"Who are you?" Max asked.
"I'm the guy that saved your ass, you can call me Leo" Leo said matter-of-factly.
"Where am I?"
"We are in my dojo, I train people in the way of martial arts and spearmanship. I found you after you got the daylights beaten out of you"
Leo wondered if he should mention all the other scars but thought he'd best not seeing as he didn't really know the kid.
" Do you know why they beat you?" he asked hopeful to get a good answer, unfortunately he was talking to Max so he would only get
" I don't know, they often beat me on my walk home from school I don't know a thing as to why they do it"
"Hmm okay I guess not everything needs a reason, I've been wondering seen as you are often beaten why don't you start to come here after school I could at least teach you the basics?" he offered out of goodwill as very few people could see the state of Max and not feel pity.
" M..Mr Leo I don't think that's a good idea I don't think my mum would like that Mr Leo sir, she doesn't like me being away from home only for school."
"That's okay I understand no need to feel pressured but are you able to walk? Do you need a ride home?"
"No I should be fine I can walk, Nothing I haven't felt before" Max regretted saying that thinking that Leo only thought this had happened once completey oblivious to how he was cleaned up and clothed unti he finally realised and said " Sir Leo I gotta go, thank you for your help. Max ran home fearing what he might come home too seen as he was late.
When he finally stepped through his door and shouted " I'm home" he heard an angelic voice saying "welcome home sweetie." and at that Maximilien shuddered.
"Where have you been? a women spoke, she had greying hair and blemished skin with fierce red eyes and she raised a hand to stroke Max's bruised and battered face her hand shaked.
"No where mum I just fell walking home from school."
"Okay son I believe you, I believe you fell. It's a real shame they bruised your face... hmm I wish they hadnt. I had friends coming over tonight but I don't think they'll be too impressed to see the state you're in."
*SLAP*